Advani assails Varun’s booking under NSA

Ranchi, March 30 (IANS) Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader L.K. Advani Monday criticised the Uttar Pradesh government for booking party leader Varun Gandhi under the stringent National Security Act (NSA). Addressing a public rally in Simdega district of Jharkhand, Advani said the BJP opposed the invocation of NSA against Gandhi.

“He has been booked under NSA for political reasons… to gain political mileage. It is a conspiracy and nothing else,” he said.

Advani also tried to woo the women voters, announcing that if voted to power, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) would introduce the Ladli Laxmi Yojna in all the states. Under the scheme, which has been introduced by the BJP government in Madhya Pradesh, the state government buys saving certificates of Rs.6,000 each year for five consecutive years for every girl born in a family.

The girl gets Rs.2,000 after she completes the Class 5, another Rs.4,000 after she completes the Class 8, Rs.7,500 after she completes the Class 10, Rs.200 per month in her 11th standard and a lumpsum amount of Rs.118,000 after she enters the 12th standard or, alternatively, attains the age of 18.

The BJP leader also called for an end to “vote bank” politics in India, alleging that the government hesitates in taking decisions on many issues due to this very consideration. He also attacked the Congress for not carrying out the death penalty to parliament attack convict Afzal Guru.

Advani also addressed election rallies in Lohardaga and Dhanbad areas of the state.